Ku Klux Klan Night Hawk hood and mask used by Stetson Kennedy - Umbra Search African American History

A Ku Klux Klan (KKK) (a) hood with attached mask and a (b) hood liner, belonging to 2011.144.2.1ab, a robe, worn by the Night Hawk rank officers, whose main role is to act as security at "klonvocations." The hood, mask, and liner are part of a set of Night Hawk’s regalia worn by writer and human rights activist Stetson Kennedy, who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in the 1940s, exposing its secrets to authorities and the outside world. The hood is conical-shaped with a back flap with squared corners. It has been made from the same plain, navy blue cotton fabric as the robe (2011.144.2.1ab) and has a burgundy colored, rayon tassel attached at the point of the hood. Four (4) centimeter wide, round eyeholes have been cut out of the front of the mask.The hood liner (b) is made from stiff white, canvas with a drawstring at the crown.Objects depicting symbols of hate or related to organized hate groups may be offensive and disturbing, but the NMAAHC aims to include them in the Collection to present and preserve the historical context in which they were created and used. Objects of this type provide an important historical record from which to study and evaluate history and culture.

Kennedy wrote or co-wrote ten books. This is a scarce, 1954 2nd printing, of the first edition book. This copy is very good with bright cloth boards.